You may think I’m weird for admitting this, but I really enjoy to study time management. I find it interesting to read about how busy people manage their time and how they implement tools, tricks, and tech to be more productive. The subject especially interests me when it relates to how preachers can best manage their time.
If you are like I am, then you have probably wished for more hours in the day or more days in the week to get more things accomplished. Why are there twenty four hours in a day? Why not more than that? Why only seven days in a week? I can’t answer those questions, but I know this: our Father’s plan is best, and His actions are deliberate in creating the world to be bound by time and space.
Time marches mercilessly. Now we find ourselves at the very edge of 2013, right on the brink of a new year, the Lord willing. Let us use the ending of this year to consider the purpose behind God creating time.
[highlight]1. Time and the Sovereign.[/highlight] God is not bound by time and space. The Bible speaks of the Father having His plan for man’s salvation in place before the world was even founded (John 17:24; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:20). It is no wonder, therefore, that “in the beginning, God” was already there (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1). He is eternal. In God’s sight, a thousand years is like one day (2 Pet. 3:8).
[highlight]2. Time and Stewardship.[/highlight] Time is a gift of which we are stewards. A steward is one who is charged with the responsibility of caring for something. Time is only used, it is never made. Our true priorities are reflected through in how we spend our time. Jesus said that His people will put the kingdom first (Mat. 6:33). Does Christ’s command not also involve our time? The apostle Paul would challenge Christians of all ages when he commanded: “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). To waste time is a sin. Does that mean that it is a sin to rest and relax? Of course not. God created humans to need regular rest. Paul condemned becoming spiritual lethargic. Christians certainly have no time to waste. All of our plans are to be considered in light of the Lord’s will (James 4:13-15).
[highlight]3. Time and Salvation.[/highlight] Some people are wasting time and gambling with their souls. They are delaying to obey the gospel or are putting off being restored to faithful service to God. They are playing with eternity and taking advantage of God’s patience with them (2 Pet. 3:9). 2 Corinthians 6:2 says that “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” There is not a better time to obey God than right now.
[highlight]4. Time and the Second Coming.[/highlight] Jesus made it clear: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Mat. 24:36; Mark 13:32). No one knows when the earth will end and the judgment will take place. But we know this: that day is coming. This was the point that Peter was making in 2 Peter 3:8 (mentioned above). A couple thousand years may separate us from the New Testament days when God spoke through the apostles and promised that the world would end and that all of humanity would be judged (2 Cor. 5:10), but those promises are still just as true as the day they were made. Carefully read 2 Peter 3.
May God help us to carefully use each moment as an opportunity to please Him.